Hundreds of firefighters riding motorcycles escorted the beam from New York to Shanksville, where hijacked Flight 93 crashed into a field, killing all 40 people onboard.

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"We wanted to find a home for this steel," said Paddy Concannon, who retired from the FDNY shortly before the World Trade Center attacks but spent countless hours digging through the rubble for survivors.

"This is an effort on our part to tie the three events together: The World Trade Center, the Pentagon and Shanksville," he said.

More than 2,750 people were killed when two hijacked planes crashed into the twin towers. Another plane crashed into the Pentagon, killing 184 people.

Shaffer said his firefighters will be reminded of the heroic acts performed that day every time they pass by the cross.

Investigators believe the hijackers crashed the plane in Shanksville, a rural town about 65 miles southeast of Pittsburgh, as passengers rushed the cockpit in a courageous effort to keep them from slamming the plane into the Capitol.

Shanksville's volunteer firefighters rushed to the crash scene to search for survivors.

"They're Smalltown USA, but they have the biggest hearts," said Rich Snyder, a retired FDNY firefighter from Ladder 20 who helped organize the ride.

He said nearly a thousand people attended the dedication ceremony - even though the entire population of Shanksville is only about 300. The name of each victim was read aloud as everyone bowed their heads in prayer.

Snyder urged people to visit the Pennsylvania town and pay respects to the victims of the crash - and urged those who live there to carry on a part of the legacy of the worst terrorist attack on American soil.

"As New Yorkers, we have to remember that 9/11 affected people across the country," he said.